MMORPG with subscription (but without shop) or Free2Play? Players miss the time without microtransactions

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Regardless of whether it’s Buy2Play like New World or Free2Play like Throne and Liberty: nowadays no MMORPG seems to be able to function without additional microtransactions in the form of an in-game shop and optional services. But not every genre fan likes that.

What was it like back then? When the first 3D MMORPGs were launched, there was already a battle between the subscription and free2play models. While Ultima Online relied on a monthly fee in 1996, Tibia, for example, already used Free2Play access when it was released in 1997.

It was clear back then: If you buy an MMORPG and pay for the associated subscription, you don’t have to worry about any additional expenses for the time being. All content is playable. At most, additional money comes in through the sale of large content expansions or through services such as server transfers.

Old School RuneScape has an optional membership, here is the Steam trailer:

Old School RuneScape – Trailer for the Steam release

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When, after the enormous success of WoW, there were numerous other MMORPGs with large budgets that wanted to conquer the world of online role-playing games with a subscription payment model, several things happened in parallel:

  • The subscription-based games cannibalized each other because there are only a few players who are willing to pay a monthly fee for several time-consuming MMORPGs at the same time.
  • Other players didn’t want or couldn’t take out a monthly subscription to an MMORPG. In some cases they got stuck with Free2Play offshoots, which at the time were nowhere near the quality of WoW and Co., but were free.
  • Successful Free2Play games managed to attract a sufficient number of players who invested much more money in the respective game than was possible in pure subscription MMORPGs.
  • Many of the MMORPGs that originally had a mandatory subscription switched to a Free2Play model.
  • Over the years, various types of monetization have been established via the Free2Play model, which are tolerated by a large proportion of players. In-game shops, paid battle pass paths and real money currencies are increasingly found in Buy2Play or subscription games.

    • Not the best possible gaming experience with an in-game shop

    What’s the problem with microtransactions? Even the fairest Free2Play model has a negative impact on the game design and the gaming experience. You have to somehow get players to visit the shop and spend money there. There are psychological tricks behind every currency, every restriction and every freely distributed reward.

    In addition, purely cosmetic items that are sold for money automatically devalue the rewards that can be earned. In many MMORPGs, you are now more likely to see who left how much money in the shop than you would be able to see who was able to overcome which challenge.

    What does the community say about the status quo? These exact issues are currently being discussed in a post by KFPofficial on Reddit. He himself writes: “I just want a monthly subscription without cosmetics or other monetization. I’m sure that’s impossible in 2024. I just miss early EverQuest, man.”

  • OneSeaworthiness7768 replies to him on Reddit: “I came to terms with the fact that this just isn’t possible in modern games and finally started playing old school RuneScape. I hate the aesthetics/graphics, but other than that it’s exactly what I want. I hope Brighter Shores will fill a similar void.”
  • ViewdFromi3WM explains on Reddit: “I agree with you… I’m even willing to pay $20 per month for a true AAA offering. Most only charge 10.”
  • TheElusiveFox goes further (via Reddit): “I would happily pay $25-30/month for a game that has stipulated in its purchase contract that there will never be a cash shop in any form. I would even pay $40 to have 24-hour active GM support to moderate chat, ban bots, and take care of other issues.”

    • In addition to Old School RuneScape, other positive examples are mentioned in the thread, such as Final Fantasy What should the payment model of your dream MMORPG look like? When someone announces an MMORPG like this, I take a seat at the front of the hype train

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